As a pre-med student at the University of Wisconsin Madison (UW-Madison), you have much to be proud of and look forward to. Your time in UW-Madison's pre-med program is just the beginning of your journey to becoming a physician, and successfully completing the program should catapult you to the top of the admissions list at the country's best medical schools. However, being a pre-med student comes with unique pressures. You are being held to a high moral and academic standard when you are just a human like every other student, and mistakes happen.
If you are facing disciplinary action at UW-Madison, the Lento Law Firm is here to help. Our seasoned Student Defense Team knows that your admission to medical school is on the line, and we will do everything in our power to ensure your spot in UW-Madison's pre-med program and your future are protected. We will walk you through the disciplinary action process and ensure your best defense is presented every step of the way. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.
Common Issues the University of Wisconsin Madison Pre-Med Students May Face
College can be challenging for the average student, but as a pre-med student, a lot more is expected of you. When you, your family, and your pre-med program expect you to excel, life can get overwhelming, and mistakes are made. The extreme pressure pre-med students are under can result in acting in ways that are out of character, including academic and other types of misconduct while at school. Pre-med student issues will generally fall into one of the following categories:
Academic Misconduct
UW-Madison's pre-med program is one of the most academically rigorous in the country. With the overwhelming amount of work and level you are expected to perform at, it is understandable that you may have felt you needed to resort to academic misconduct to succeed. Common types of academic misconduct our Student Defense Team deals with include:
- Plagiarism
- Unauthorized use of AI or use of deceitful educational software
- Unauthorized collaboration with other students
- Cheating
- Self-plagiarism (i.e., reusing exams or assignments)
- Falsifying data or research
- False citations
- Impersonation
- Bribery
Title IX Violations
Title IX violations are behaviors related to sexual misconduct, which is covered under the federal law referred to as Title IX. These violations are unfortunately common among all college students and can include:
- Sexual harassment
- Sexual assault
- Stalking
- Making sexually suggestive jokes or comments
- Physical and/or aggressive sexual advances
- Revenge porn
- Dating violence
- Domestic violence
- Gender-based bullying
Code of Conduct Violations
Code of conduct violations are all other violations of UW-Madison's Policies on Conduct and Discipline. Essentially, these behaviors are anything that doesn't fall under the category of Title IX or academic misconduct but is prohibited by school policies. Code of conduct violations may include:
- Assault
- Threats
- Drug possession and/or use
- Theft
- Property damage
- Stalking
- Cyberstalking
- Social media policy violations
- Cyber/digital crimes
- Hazing
The University of Wisconsin Madison Disciplinary Action Process
The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) handles academic and nonacademic misconduct at UW-Madison. UW-Madison addresses academic misconduct and nonacademic misconduct using slightly different processes. The Lento Law Firm attorney can discuss the process with you in detail, but below is an overview of what you can anticipate.
Academic Misconduct Investigations
If you are suspected of academic misconduct, your professor will request to meet with you one-on-one. During this meeting, you will have the opportunity to respond to the allegation. While this is meant to be an informal meeting, you should still consult with the Lento Law Firm attorney prior to any conversation. Anything you say during this meeting can be used against you later, so you need to protect yourself and be careful of what you say in this meeting.
After the meeting, your professor will determine if misconduct has occurred, and they have the authority to take any of the following disciplinary actions:
- Oral reprimand
- Written reprimand
- Option for the student to repeat the work at issue in the misconduct case
- Lower the student's grade on the work
- Issue a failing grade on the work
- Lower the student's grade in the course
- Issue a failing grade in the course
- Remove the student from the course
When a professor makes their determination, you will be emailed with the details of the allegation and determination, and their report will also be sent to OSCCS. You only have ten days after you receive this email to request a formal hearing with OSCCS. When you have a formal hearing, the Lento Law Firm attorney will assist you in putting forth the best possible defense and encourage OSCCS to take action that is different from what was suggested by the professor. OSCCS must hear any case where the outcome could be:
- Disciplinary probation
- Suspension
- Expulsion
If you disagree with OSCCS' decision, you can appeal your case to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Keep in mind you only have ten days to make an appeal. If you have yet to be represented by a student defense attorney, it isn't too late to call the Lento Law Firm. Our Student Defense Team frequently gets better results for our pre-med student clients on appeal.
Nonacademic Misconduct Investigations
Nonacademic misconduct cases can take a couple of different paths, but generally, the process follows this trajectory:
- The complaint is made and entered into the Student Conduct Database
- The accused student is notified of the allegation and the investigation
- Investigation
- Initial determination
- The student can challenge the outcome by requesting a hearing
- Hearing
- Hearing determination
- Appeal
If you are accused of nonacademic misconduct, you may have the option to participate in an alternative to discipline program that UW-Madison calls Amnesty Through Responsible Action. If your misconduct relates to your mental health or an alcohol or substance use disorder, you may be able to participate in this program. Under this program, you can receive necessary medical assistance without being penalized for your misconduct. While this may sound like a win-win, you are in a mental health condition, which can impact your academic career and reputation. The Lento Law Firm attorney will discuss the pros and cons of this program with you and help you decide if this is the best option in your case.
Protect Your Academic Career by Retaining the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team
Don't let the disciplinary action you face ruin your success in UW-Madison's pre-med program. Our Student Defense Team will fight to ensure your due process rights are preserved, and we mitigate any consequences that could get in the way of you reaching medical school. Don't gamble your future and go in alone; contact us today at 888-535-3686 or our online form.
